Pumpable Crib
A pumpable crib bag assembly includes a containment bag having a body and a supporting member. The containment bag is configured to contain a cementitious material therein and has a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. The pumpable crib bag assembly further includes a reinforcing layer positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the containment bag.
Latest FCI Holdings Delaware, Inc. Patents:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/477,929, filed Apr. 21, 2011, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a method and apparatus for supporting a mine opening and, more particularly, to a pumpable crib and a method for installing a pumpable crib used to support a mine opening.
2. Description of Related Art
Cribbing is frequently used to provide support in underground mine openings. Wooden cribbing formed from stacked pieces of timber generally allows for large amounts of vertical displacement prior to failure. Pumpable cribs, which are formed by pumping a cementitious material into a collapsible containment bag, generally withstand much larger loads than wooden cribbing, but do not allow for as much vertical displacement as the wooden cribbing prior to failure. The containment bags are typically textile or fabric bags made of polypropylene and/or polyethylene, which are secured to a roof of the mine opening. The containment bags usually have a tube and one-way valve for receiving the cementitious material under pressure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment, a pumpable crib bag assembly includes a containment bag having a body and a supporting member. The containment bag is configured to contain a cementitious material therein and has a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. The pumpable crib bag assembly further includes a reinforcing layer positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the containment bag.
The body of the containment bag may include a plurality of layers, with a supporting member positioned between the plurality of layers. The reinforcing layer may circumferentially surround the containment bag and may extend from the first end to the second end of the containment bag. The reinforcing layer may comprise polyethylene. The reinforcing layer may comprise about 60-150 gauge polyethylene sheet material. The reinforcing layer may be a single sheet of material circumferentially surrounding the containment bag and extending from the first end of the containment bag to the second end of the containment bag. The containment bag may be substantially cylindrical or substantially frusto-conical.
In a further embodiment, a method of installing a pumpable crib includes securing a first end of a containment bag to a roof portion of a mine opening, positioning a second end of the containment bag on a floor portion of the mine opening, filling the containment bag with a cementitious material, and positioning a reinforcing layer around an outer surface of the containment bag.
The reinforcing layer may be helically wrapped around the containment bag and extend from the first end to the second end of the containment bag. The reinforcing layer may be a single sheet extending circumferentially around the containment bag and extending from the first end to the second end of the containment bag. The containment bag may include a body and a supporting member. The reinforcing layer may comprise polyethylene. The reinforcing layer may comprise about 60-150 gauge polyethylene sheet material. The containment bag may be filled with the cementitious material via a fill tube positioned adjacent the first end of the containment bag. Further, the supporting member may be a helically wound wire and the body of the containment bag may include a plurality of layers, with the supporting member positioned between the plurality of layers.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is to be understood that the specific apparatus illustrated in the attached figures and described in the following specification is simply an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring again to
The pumpable crib bag assembly 10 shown in
Under loading and vertical displacement of the pumpable crib bag assembly 10, the reinforcing layer 30 prevents fractured cementitious material 44 from falling out of the containment bag 12, which frequently ruptures during vertical displacement of the assembly 10. The reinforcing layer 30 is flexible and stretches to contain the fractured cementitious material 44 as it leaves the containment bag 12. The pumpable crib bag assembly 10 has improved residual loading characteristics compared to a conventional pumpable crib.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
While several embodiments were described in the foregoing detailed description, those skilled in the art may make modifications and alterations to these embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive.
Claims
1. A pumpable crib bag assembly comprising:
- a containment bag having a body and a supporting member, the containment bag configured to contain a cementitious material therein and having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface; and
- a reinforcing layer positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the containment bag.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the body of the containment bag comprises a plurality of layers, the supporting member positioned between the plurality of layers.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer circumferentially surrounds the containment bag.
4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the reinforcing layer extends from the first end to the second end of the containment bag.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer comprises polyethylene.
6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the reinforcing layer comprises polyethylene.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer comprises about 60-150 gauge polyethylene sheet material.
8. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the reinforcing layer comprises about 60-150 gauge polyethylene sheet material.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing layer comprises a single sheet of material circumferentially surrounding the containment bag and extending from the first end of the containment bag to the second end of the containment bag.
10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the containment bag is substantially cylindrical.
11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the containment bag is substantially frusto-conical.
12. A method of installing a pumpable crib comprising:
- securing a first end of a containment bag to a roof portion of a mine opening;
- positioning a second end of the containment bag on a floor portion of the mine opening;
- filling the containment bag with a cementitious material; and
- positioning a reinforcing layer around an outer surface of the containment bag.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reinforcing layer is helically wrapped around the containment bag and extends from the first end to the second end of the containment bag.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the reinforcing layer is a single sheet extending circumferentially around the containment bag and extending from the first end to the second end of the containment bag.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the containment bag comprises a body and a supporting member.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the reinforcing layer comprises polyethylene.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the reinforcing layer comprises about 60-150 gauge polyethylene sheet material.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the containment bag is filled with the cementitious material via a fill tube positioned adjacent the first end of the containment bag.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the supporting member comprises a helically wound wire.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the body of the containment bag comprises a plurality of layers, the supporting member positioned between the plurality of layers.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 23, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2012
Patent Grant number: 9181801
Applicant: FCI Holdings Delaware, Inc. (Wilmington, DE)
Inventor: Dakota Faulkner (New Kensington, PA)
Application Number: 13/453,546